Vertically undulating track



Feb. 13, 1951 J. L. JONES 2,541,586

VERTICALLY UNDULATING TRACK ROUNDABOUT Filed Jan. 28, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1.

WZQ 1 are JOHN L. JONES,

Feb. 13, 1951 JONES 2,541,586

VERTICAL-LY UNDULATING TRACK ROUNDABOUT Filed Jan. 28, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG 4 8 FIG. 3,

w gwuQm M- JOHN A. uoms's,

FIG. 5.

Patented Feb. 13, 1951 VERTICALLY UNDULATING TRACK ROUNDABOUT John L. Jones, Kenmore, Wash.

Application January 28, 1947, Serial No. 724,842

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved amusement device and more particularly and specifically to a novel departure in the art of amusement rides of which the followin is a specification.

The primary object of this invention res des in the provision of a new and novel amusement ride designed to give the effect of a surf board ride in which riders stand on an inclined base which is propelled over a circular rising and falling track adapted to simulate the riding movement of a surfboard passing over water.

Still another object of this invention resides in the provision of a new and novel means for removably securing the towed platform to the moving arm in such a manner as to allow for a limited pliable action between the moving members.

Still a further object of this invention is the provision of a safe and enjoyable amusement ride of the character described which is of an extremely simple and inexpensive design and which is of a strong durable construction.

Still further improvements and advantages of this invention will readily appear to those skilled in the art when the following description is read in the light of the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a partial top plan view of the ride.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the ride.

Fig. 3 is a partial vertical section of the ride car.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on line 4--4 taken in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on line55 of Fig. 4.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals indicate similar parts throughout and which illustrate the preferred embodiment of this invention, A designates a circular track elevated on vertical braces l at variable heights about its length forming an undulating track adapted to give a surf-like ride to the surf cars B carried thereon.

The track is disposed about a center post 3 wherein is housed a power unit adapted to rotate about it as a center an assembly comprising equally spaced radial arms C whose outer ends reach across the track A and are rollably supported thereon by track engaging and arm supportin wheels 4.

The surf cars comprise a substantially rectangular floor Ill having a vertical U-shaped screened enclosure H supported thereon about both sides and the rear end thereof with one end of the screen terminating short of the front end of one side'of the car to allow entrance thereinto. The floor of the car is provided with a rearwardly inclined raised section l2 causing the rider to stand rearwardly inclined while grasping the angular rearwardly extending handlebar l3 secured as at M to each forward corner of the raised platform l2.

The front end of the floor I 0 forward of the screened enclosure curves outwardly and upwardly in a semi-circular shape to form a simulated screen or spray shield l5 on the front end of the surf car. Three horizontally spaced T-headed studs l6 are removably secured by a nut I! with their T heads extending forward of the screen and adapted to be loosely inserted in the three spaced and raised slots I 8 formed by U-shaped brackets l9 secured to that face of the moving arm disposed toward its towed surf car. The T heads of these members have limited vertical movement within these slots to allow sufficient play to prevent stresses and strains between the connection and to maintain a sufficient area of contact between the heads 20 of the T-shaped members and the restricted surface of the U-shaped brackets l9 forming the slot l8 to maintain a strong and durable pulling force for the surf car at all times.

The rearward'end of the surf car is supported by a single Wheel 2| vertically depending in a pivotal rotatable position therebeneath to allow for the easy travel of the surf car about the track as it is pulled by the moving arm.

Additionally a panel or the like 22, resembling the spray or wake conventionally produced by a surfboard or other craft moving through the water is secured as at 23 at one point on the lower extremity of the surf car in a rearwardly disposed position simulating the effect of the wake of the car as it travels about the track. Another additional feature is the U-shaped looking clamp 24 carried by one top side brace of the screen enclosure adapted to receive and engage the handlebar l3 restricting it against rearward movement past that point and thus forming a rigid grasping support for the rider of the car.

Thus it may be seen that the rider of the car standing in a rearwardly inclined position and grasping the handlebar Is as he would the handle ropes of an aquaplane will be propelled forwardly in an undulating movement about the circular track giving the effect of surf riding with the up and down movement of the car combined with the scenic effects incorporated in the construction of the track and the car.

Having thus described and explained this in- 3 vention and with full belief that modifications in size, materials used, and general characteristics of construction would not constitute a departure from the spirit of this invention what I desire to claim in Letters Patent is:

1. A coupling for connecting a tractor member to a drawn member, said coupling comprising an element fixed on said tractor formed with a pair of laterally spaced vertical slots closed at their upper and lower ends and an abbreviated middle vertical slot positioned midway between the first mentioned slots, said abbreviated slot being open at its upper end and having a closed lower end located in a plane passing through the first mentioned slots at points intermediate their upper and lower ends, said drawn member having three fixed forwardly projecting laterally spaced studs aligned with the related slots in the tractor member and extending loosely through the related slots, and enlarged heads on said studs bearing freely against the forward side of said tractor member thereby connecting said drawn member to said tractor member for limited vertical and lateral movement relative to said tractor member and for limited pivoting of said drawn member relative to said tractor on the axis of the middle stud.

2. An amusement ride comprising a stationary circular track having an undulating surface, a power driven hub positioned centrally of said track and having a radial spoke having an outer end reaching across said track, a wheel on the outer end of said spoke, said wheel rollably en gaging said track surface and said spoke being vertically movable so as to maintain said wheel in rolling contact with the track surface, a car positioned inwardly from said wheel in trailing relation to said spoke, a caster wheel on a rearward part of said car in rolling contact with the track surface and supporting the car thereon, and draft means connecting the forward end of said car with said spoke comprising means providing for limited free vertical movement of the car relative to the spoke and restricted lateral movement of the car relative to the spoke whereby said car can undulate and swivel on its caster wheel as the car is drawn around the undulating surface of the track.

3. An amusement ride comprising a stationary.

' ward part of said car in rolling contact with the track surface and supporting the car thereon, and draft means connecting the forward end of said car with said spoke comprising means providing for limited free vertical movement of the car relative to the spoke and restricted lateral movement of the car relative to the spoke whereby said car can undulate and swivel on its caster wheel as the car is drawn around the undulating surface of the track, a handle bar rising above the forward end of said car and extending thereacross, said car having a floor having a forwardly and upwardly angulated portion upon which a passenger is adapted to stand while grasping said handle bar in a rearwardly leaning position as the car is drawn around the track.

4. An amusement ride comprising a stationary circular track having an undulating surface, a power driven hub positioned centrally of said track and having a radial spoke having an outer end reaching across said track, a Wheel on the outer end of said spoke, said wheel rollably engaging said track surface and said spoke being vertically movable so as to maintain said wheel in rolling contact with the track surface, a car positioned inwardly from said wheel in trailing relation to said spoke, a caster wheel on a rearward part of said car in rolling contact with the track surface and supporting the car thereon, and draft means connecting the forward end of said car with said spoke comprising means providing for limited free vertical movement of the car relative to the spoke and restricted lateral movement of the car relative to the spoke whereby said car can undulate and swivel on its caster wheel as the car is drawn around the undulating surface of the track, said draft means comprising laterally spaced T-heads projecting forwardly from said car, laterally spaced brackets on said spoke having vertically extending T-shaped channels in which said T-heads are slidably and loosely confined for free vertical movement, and means limiting upward and downward free movement of said T-heads in said brackets.

JOHN L. JONES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent;

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 239,229 Deline Mar. 22, 1881 708,540 Felton Sept. 9, 1902 879,143 Cantrovitz Feb. 18, 1908 1,211,352 Rathburn Jan. 2, 1917 1,296,417 Mangels Mar. 4, 1919 1,426,418 Simon Aug. 22, 1922 1,931,321 Keil Oct. 17, 1933 2,107,881 Beardsley Feb. 8, 1938 2,360,654 Day Oct. 17, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 628,512. France Oct. 25, 1927 Y 

